The Path

I've had my mother on my mind so much over the last few days. It started when I was digging through a drawer looking for some fabric. I came across some embroidered pieces that I wasn't sure if they were done by her or her mother. So I called her and we got into a long discussion on sewing and how we learned to sew. Her memories were a lot clearer then my own. She remembers taking lessons from Sr. Jovita on Saturday mornings at Sacred Heart Academy. She was twelve years old. Her mother didn't sew until much later in her life but she encouraged my mom to learn and learn she did. My mother was quite the seamstress and very much a perfectionist. Details were important.

I don't remember taking any lessons until I was in high school. But I know I was sewing before then. I think I must have just picked it up from my mom and also from my oldest sister, Beth, who also sewed. Those high school lessons were wonderful. I loved being able to create something that I could wear and that was one of a kind. I remember my second year of home ec (going to a Catholic school, we call it CFL--Christian Family Living) and taking tailoring. I bit off way more than I could chew, and made a camel colored knee length wool coat. My mother must have spent a fortune on the fabric and supplies. It didn't come out great. The fabric was very heavy and difficult to sew on. But mother and Beth both encouraged me and I did finish it. I cried many a tear over that coat, mostly because I had to model it in the annual fashion show. Still makes me cringe thinking of that. Anyway, it was my mother's and sister's encouragement and help that I am so thankful for. If I hadn't had that, I know I wouldn't have continued to sew.

These are my mother's hands. The hands that started me on my creative path.

Here is her delicate embroidery made when she was a young girl.

I told you she was a perfectionist.

Here are my humble beginnings; an embroidered pillowcase made on a summer's day. I am so happy that I still have this piece--a relic of my early creative life.
I never could have imagined that I would be doing what I am doing today. And all I can say is thank you to my mom and to Beth for starting me on my way.

HAPPY MARDI GRAS

I love Mardi Gras. I have lived in Colorado for 21 years and I still miss it. It is such a part of the history and culture of the city, and so much a part of me and who I am. I remember the day I learned that not everyone celebrates Mardi Gras. It was like finding out there was no Santa Claus. I felt so sorry for all the people who couldn't enjoy this special day. And I still feel sorry for them. I feel sorry for myself too, because I'm not there. Especially this year with the Saints winning the superbowl. From what I hear, it's been one long party since they won the playoffs. Here's a picture of me when I was 2 and a half. Probably by very first Mardi Gras in 1959. I'm the one in the middle with my 2 sisters. I also remember wearing that nurse's costume. Then there was another year when I was a cowgirl. Oh and the year I wore a big mexican hat. Didn't have to lift my arms to catch beads, the hat caught them all. Drove all the people around me crazy. This lovely picture was taken in the 70's. I had on my Dad's sweater, my mother's dress, a mink hat with a balloon attached to it, striped socks and tennis shoes. Don't know who I was trying to be, but I sure had fun that day.

Here is part of my dabbloon collection. I have coins dating back to the 1960's. I had them all stored in a coin collectors book at my mother's house. When my son got interested in coin collecting I had her send them to me. I am so glad I did that because her house was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina and I would have lost them for good. I consider them to be some of my most prized possessions.

And here are some of the beads I have collected over the years ranging from the 70's , 80's, 90's and 00's. Again I am so happy I have these. I display them every year during Mardi Gras season. So even though not everyone may celebrate mardi gras in their town, we can all have a mardi gras heart for a day. Be crazy, give up your worries for a day and have some fun. Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!!

Morning Glories

In my last post, I had two images of morning glories that recently bloomed in my garden. It took them until September to bloom. We have had such a cool wet summer that I didn't think I would ever get a blossom. I planted a huge amount of seeds and most of them sprouted and took root, produced some nice plants and some scrawny sorry looking ones that I thought would just die off. The sorriest looking plant is the one that blossomed.

These days I feel a lot like that sorry plant. All shrivelled up and weak, putting everything I have into reaching toward the sky, but feeling like my days of blossoming are over. That morning glory has given me the courage to keep trying. Today is the first day in over a month that I have had the urge to be creative. Ideas are pouring into my head. In my next post I hope to show you what I'll be working on in the next few days and weeks.